Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System

Evoking the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the impressionable young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

"The city are riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and financial instability. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the dread of state surveillance and imprisonment, represented by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the system. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt exploration into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.